Sāmbār Podi

Podi is the name for ground spices that’s used in several South Indian languages (including Tamil and Telugu). This blend is for use with Sāmbār. Most versions of podi include red chilies, but I prefer to leave them out and add ground red chili during cooking instead. This allows me to adjust the spiciness of any dish without sacrificing the core characteristics of this spice blend, which are warm, toasty, nutty, and subtly bitter.